Manchester United accelerating defender chase despite Branthwaite agreement: report

Manchester United are reportedly pushing ahead with their pursuit of a new centre-back, despite already agreeing a deal for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite. According to The Athletic, Erik ten Hag is keen to add another defender to his squad, as he wants to strengthen the options available to him beyond the current first-choice pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. The report suggests that the club are facing competition for the defender they are targeting, but they are determined to secure his signature. United have already made significant progress in their pursuit of Branthwaite, who is set to join the club on a permanent transfer from Everton for a fee of around £17 million. However, Ten Hag is clearly looking for more defensive reinforcements, as he is eager to make United more competitive in all competitions next season. The club's pursuit of a new centre-back comes after they finished third in the Premier League last season, and they will be looking to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal for the title next season.

Summary

"Manchester United are keen on signing another defender, despite already agreeing a deal for Jarrad Branthwaite. The club are facing competition for the target, but they are determined to secure his signature. This indicates that Erik ten Hag wants to strengthen the defensive options at his disposal and make Manchester United more competitive in all competitions next season."